I would like to write about the overwhelming positives presently occurring in Dighton and excitedly await its future.

Youth of the town are having an action-packed and fun-filled summer. The Dighton Baseball Softball League is successfully competing in local and regional all-star tournaments in surrounding towns and also at the Lopes Complex in Dighton. The Dighton Public Library has also been hard at work this summer, selflessly dedicating time and effort to educate and entertain young people in the town. Staff has held events already during the summer, and will continue to do so, with further events scheduled for Saturday.

The nationally, regionally, and locally prominent Dighton-Rehoboth Marching Band has been a stirring hit this summer, putting Dighton on the map with marvelous performances in Disney World and Washington, D.C., and drawing attention from overseas. I would like to welcome the band members and staff back from their historic trip.

The Dominican Sisters of the Presentation on Elm Street will be reaching out to Honduras with a mission until August, which be supported by the Knights of Columbus, the Boy Scouts, the Lions Club, and the Leos of Dighton-Rehoboth, who will combine to provide a total of 11,000 meals for the mission and local food banks.

The mission will be further supported by a group maintaining a Christ Closet out of the Old Mt. Hope Mill Complex, who are gathering inventory, clothing, and necessities for those in need. The First Baptist Church will be having its “Ark in the Park” later in the summer at Spratt Field and Community Playground. The Methodist Church welcomes a new minister, and the church will be in good hands for the foreseeable future. The Friends of the Library are planning a Taste of Dighton to be held later in the summer.

On the construction front, the town is well underway and on schedule to complete two bridge projects (Brook Street and Dighton-Berkeley), and is working hard to complete many other projects. The finishing touches are also being put on Maple Swamp Road. Re-roofing projects will be underway soon on the Dighton Fire Station 1, Van Gyzen Hall, the Highway Salt Shed, Prime-Time, and the two grammar schools.

The town has approved plans for the construction of a police station. The Parks and Rec Commission has approved an initiative that will result in improvements to the boat ramp, while also helping the Community Preservation Committee with the rebuilding of the tennis and basketball courts on 1551 Somerset Ave. with funds approved by the annual town meeting on June 2.

Dighton is partaking in new and exciting initiatives for the betterment of the town. An intern from Boston University has completed the GIS mapping of Dighton’s storm drain system, which in the result of an issue, will greatly assist in the resolution of the issue. The Bristol County Agricultural School is starting a farm stand/farmer’s market, which will be a major staple for local produce and food in the town’s future.

Page 2 of 2 - The town is hard at work at receiving Green Community Designation, which will reduce town government energy consumption by 20 percent over the course of five years. If successful, it will place the town in position to vie for up to $250,000 for cap and trade that doesn’t require appropriation for energy conservation measures ad energy saving initiatives. The town is also discussing a public works sharing agreement with the Dighton Water District, which will result in reduced expense.

There is also a planned new flood hazard mitigation plan, set up by the Disaster Committee (which is now state-certified) to address mean tide increases in foreseeable future. Perhaps the most exciting news of all is that in September, there will be a public forum on the new master plan that will stress mixed–use zoning in support if increased commercial activity that will give the town of Dighton a new tax base in the 21st century and help guarantee that our descendants will be able to afford to live here.

As you can tell, Dighton is a busy place, and will continue to be one with new initiatives and projects springing up all the time. The town is doing its best to successfully face every challenge that comes its way. There is always room to join one of these new and exciting initiatives. Coming together as one with the rest of the members of the community will help cement Dighton’s bright and positive future.